New King James Version

2 Samuel 23:15-29 New King James Version (NKJV)

15. And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

16. So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.

17. And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it.These things were done by the three mighty men.

18. Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.

19. Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

20. Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

21. And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

22. These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.

23. He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

24. Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25. Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26. Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27. Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28. Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29. Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,